Home / Editor's Pick /

June solstice: Summer is officially here

07:00
21 June 2023

June solstice
Summer is officially here

solstice

Today we mark the June solstice, the longest day of the year and signalling the start of astronomical summer.

A solstice occurs when one of Earth’s pole reaches its maximum tilt towards the Sun. For those of us in the northern hemisphere today will be the longest of the year, but for those in the southern hemisphere, it’s the opposite.

There are two solstices each year, today marks summer, while the second, in December, brings winter.

You may be thinking that we already marked the arrival of summer. You would be correct.

There are actually two starts to summer, Meteorological summer began on 1st June and will last until August 31st.

Today marks astronomical summer, which is dependent on the tilt of the Earth on its rotational axis and will last until September 23rd.

On the summer solstice, the sun travels its longest path after rising, reaching its highest point, before setting around 17 hours later. Make sure you make the most of the additional daylight!

More on the topic
Weather map showing forecast temperatures for England and Wales on Wednesday 17 September and Friday 19 September. On Wednesday, most areas range between 17°C and 21°C, while by Friday temperatures rise, with London and Norwich reaching 24°C and many regions showing 21°C. The colour shading shifts from lighter to darker orange, indicating a general warming trend.
Wednesday 17 September 2025

Warm end to the week

Late summer interlude
Split weather map of the UK and Ireland. On the left, rainfall radar shows widespread showers over much of Ireland, Wales, and northern England, with temperatures between 15–18°C; sunnier symbols appear in parts of Scotland and southern England. On the right, wind gust map highlights strong winds, peaking at around 40 mph in Dublin and Aberdeen, with 30–35 mph gusts in Cork and Cardiff, and lighter winds near 23 mph in London and Liverpool.
Wednesday 10 September 2025

Yet more rain and winds

Unsettled midweek weather
Curvature of the Earth with cloud fields and deep blue sky from a great height.
Tuesday 16 September 2025

Protective layer recovers

Ozone hole significantly smaller in 2024
All weather news
This might also interest you
Mammatus clouds
Thursday 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
Sunday 24 August 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mammatus clouds widely spotted
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement